Two powerful earthquakes shake Venezuela, setting off chaos in Caracas
Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela’s central and coastal regions on Wednesday just 39 seconds apart, triggering scenes of panic in Caracas and other cities as preliminary reports of structural damage and injuries began to emerge.
The United States’ official tsunami warning system reported that a 7.2-magnitude earthquake was actually part of a seismic sequence involving a one-two punch, with the stronger second quake reaching a magnitude of 7.5.
The U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center explained that the two tremors constituted a “seismic doublet,” a phenomenon in which two major earthquakes occur within seconds of each other in the same geographic area.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the main earthquake occurred at 6:04 p.m. local time, with its epicenter about 186 miles east of Caracas, near Montalbán, in the country’s central region.
This kind of shallow quake is typically felt more intensely and carries greater potential for surface damage.
The earthquake’s shallow depth also allowed it to be felt across a wide region of the country, including Caracas, where residents reported intense shaking that forced evacuations from residential buildings, offices and shopping centers.
Message from interim president
Speaking in a nationwide state television broadcast Wednesday night, interim President Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency and confirmed that at least 20 aftershocks had been recorded following the two powerful earthquakes that struck earlier in the day, keeping both authorities and residents in affected areas on high alert.
Rodríguez said that although the tremors were felt across the entire country, the areas hardest hit so far include Caracas, Miranda, La Guaira, Aragua, Carabobo and Falcón.
She said building collapses had been reported in several districts of Caracas, while significant damage to homes, buildings and public infrastructure was reported in multiple states.
Among the most serious impacts, Rodríguez cited power outages in Caracas and La Guaira, as well as disruptions to water service in Miranda, parts of Caracas, Falcón, Yaracuy, Zulia and La Guaira. As a preventive measure, the government also suspended domestic gas service in several areas to reduce the risk of explosions.
“Immediately after these two earthquakes occurred, all of our authorities and the civil protection system mobilized for rescue operations,” Rodríguez said. “At this moment, the priority is to save lives.”
She said that once the emergency phase has passed, efforts will shift toward restoring critical infrastructure and rebuilding damaged homes and other affected property.
As part of the emergency response, the government temporarily suspended operations of the Caracas Metro and the national railway system, canceled classes for the remainder of the week, and halted all non-essential activities.
Rodríguez also said the country’s entire public and private healthcare network had been activated to treat the injured, urging doctors, nurses and other medical personnel to report immediately to their workplaces.
She also announced the closure of Maiquetía International Airport after severe structural damage was reported.
The interim president urged residents to evacuate homes showing serious structural damage and called for “calm, unity and cooperation” as the country responds to the disaster.
Panic inside buildings
Videos circulating on social media showed people rushing out of buildings in the capital, while some users reported partial collapses and damage to structures. So far, authorities have not released an official assessment of the damage in Caracas.
The powerful tremor terrified Caracas residents inside their homes.
Adriana Meneses Ímber, who was in La Floresta, in eastern Caracas, said she first noticed the lights flickering before feeling a slight movement that within seconds turned into violent shaking.
“I had never experienced anything like it, and I lived through the 1967 earthquake as a child, but this was stronger,” Meneses told el Nuevo Herald. “We started hearing the sound of objects in the house falling, glass breaking. I got under the table. It felt like it lasted two or three minutes, with incredible intensity.”
After the main quake, Meneses left her home with others and remained outside on the street with neighbors, fearing additional tremors. She said she felt at least two aftershocks. She also noted that reports of damage began circulating in other parts of eastern Caracas, including broken windows in buildings in Los Palos Grandes and the partial collapse of a wall in a building in Altamira.
The quake was also felt in Barquisimeto, in Lara state.
Katherine Guaramaco described the experience as one of the most intense of her life.
“It was quite strong. I had never felt an earthquake so loud,” she said.
“It wasn’t just that the shaking was very strong, but there was also a sound that echoed,” she added. In her two-story home, lamps and other objects began swaying violently. “Everything moved, and my house is stable,” she said.
Elena González, a resident of eastern Caracas, was inside her apartment with her mother, who is in her 90s. She said the power began to fail just as the earthquake started.
“I was in the bedroom with my mother, and the lights kept going off and coming back on. The moment I felt the earthquake, I hugged my mother and told her, ‘If we die, we die together,’ “ she said in an interview. Neighbors knocked on her door to help her leave with her mother. Both remained outside the building with other residents while feeling at least three aftershocks
‘It sounded horrific’
In Guatire, in Miranda state, preliminary reports indicate that several people were injured, though the severity of the injuries and the exact number of those affected remain unclear.
The earthquake was also felt in Los Teques, also in Miranda state, where residents described scenes of chaos and damage to buildings and businesses.
Yraluz Galindo said she was outside when she heard a deafening roar seconds before the ground began shaking violently.
“It sounded horrific, as if a jet were flying directly over my head. Then it felt as if I were surfing a wave with the movement,” Galindo told el Nuevo Herald. She said several buildings in the area suffered significant structural damage. At La Cascada shopping center, she added, the roof of a store partially collapsed during the quake.
Carabobo, in the central region of the country, also appeares to be among the states hardest hit. Juan Carlos Colina, director of Venprensa.com, told el Nuevo Herald that the shaking was particularly severe there because of the state’s proximity to the epicenter.
Valencia, the state capital, and the municipality of Naguanagua appear to be among the most affected areas.
“In the area where I am, in the San José district of Valencia, many buildings — including the one where I live, which consists of two 21-story towers — sustained considerable damage,” Colina said.
He said two water tanks in the building ruptured, while multiple buildings began experiencing gas leaks, raising concerns about possible secondary emergencies.
“People fled the buildings and gathered in the streets,” he said.
The quake was also strongly felt in other central and western states, where residents described prolonged shaking that lasted several seconds.
The Venezuelan Seismological Research Foundation, the country’s official monitoring agency, has not yet released a final report on the magnitude, depth and exact location of the earthquake.
Venezuelan authorities typically activate emergency assessment and response protocols following major seismic events, including inspections of critical infrastructure such as hospitals, bridges, highways and electrical systems.
Venezuela lies in a zone of high seismic activity due to the interaction between the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates. Historically, the country has experienced destructive earthquakes, including the 1967 Caracas earthquake, which killed hundreds and caused severe damage in the capital.
Emergency crews continue to assess the situation in different parts of the country, while authorities are expected to provide a clearer picture in the coming hours regarding material damage, injuries and possible fatalities.
This breaking report will be updated.
This story was originally published June 24, 2026 at 7:10 PM.
